Two Fylde coast pupils test negative for Covid-19 as headteachers plead with parents to wear masks amid 'lack of social distancing'

St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, in Devonshire Road, told parents about the suspected cases at the weekend.

Both youngsters have since been tested and are now back at school after being given the all clear, a council spokeswoman said.

Headteacher Alexis Satterthwaite took the unusual step of writing to parents on a Sunday, telling them: "This letter was to be sent out on Monday and posted on the website but it has come to my attention, today, that two children may be displaying symptoms of Covid-19.

"The procedures are the same as we put into place when the school had a previous suspected case.

"Whilst we are doing everything possible to keep our school community safe, parents need to be aware of the arrangements to deal with any suspected Covid-19 case."

It comes as a separate resort school has brought in stricter anti-Covid-19 measures after saying some parents had shown a "concerning lack of social distancing".

Boundary Primary School, in Dinmore Avenue, Grange Park, said it would now "recommend" that face coverings such as masks are "worn by all parents and carers who are medically able to so", with teachers also wearing them.

Youngsters will also now finish at different times: 3.15pm for those in Year Three, 3.10pm for those in Year Four, 3.20pm for Year Fives, and 3.25pm for Year Six pupils.

The school said: "As we have now been open for a number of days we have noticed a concerning lack of social distancing by parents and carers.

"Therefore, we are enhancing our Covid safe rules."

There are no changes for children in reception and Years One, Two, and Three, the school said, though it said it will keep the situation "under constant review".

Staff will wait with the youngest children until their parents can collect them from a designated area.

"Please follow these new procedures to help keep your child safe," the school, which did not respond to a request for comment, added.

Pupils across the Fylde coast returned to school last week, many for the first time since March.

Boundary is not the only school to make changes shortly after reopening, with a number of others making tweaks to keep people safe.

The headteacher at St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School, Dr Elaine Allen, said youngsters have been "wonderful" while getting used to their new routine.

But she said she was also "concerned about the proximity of parents to each other" around the school's entrances, though she was keen to point out that was because of logistical difficulties and not people ignoring the rules.

"Guidance still encourages two metres as far as possible, but as parents pass by each other or gather around the actual entrance (more so at the front of school) this is often reduced," she said.

"Of course this also happens in supermarkets and any other social space, but I feel the use of masks around the entrances, until you have moved away, would greatly reduce risk to each other.

"With the forthcoming flu and cold season, I am sure this would be greatly appreciated by all of you.

"As soon as you have dropped off at the entrance and moved away, the mask can be removed.

"Some of our parents and grandparents are more vulnerable than others, and if masks are worn around the entrances, I am sure this will make everyone feel safer."

Parents at Devonshire Primary Academy, in Devonshire Road, North Shore, were asked to adhere to different staggered start and finish times from Friday, following a review the day before.

While at Layton Primary School, in Meyler Avenue, yesterday, headteacher Jonathan Clucas could be seen in the playground at 3.15pm orchestrating social distancing efforts.

Days earlier, parents were sent a letter urging those with pupils in Years Three, Four and Five to drop them off at the school gates in the morning, and restrict themselves to one per child in the afternoons.

"We understand that our changes to the start and end of the day may cause inconvenience, however these arrangements are there to reduce the spread of Covid-19, we want our children to be able to access schooling this year and this precaution is for the safety of our pupils, staff and community, and it is imperative that whilst the infection remains active in the community, we follow ways which minimise the risk of infection," Mr Clucas said.

Earlier today, the school said it would stagger its finish times, with Year Threes leaving at 3.10pm, Year Fours at 3.15pm, and Year Fives at 3.20pm.

"These are challenging and new times for all of us, and we are doing our upmost to keep everyone safe within the circumstances," Mr Clucas added.

"Continued co-operation and understanding will help us, together, ensure we can minimise the risk for all of us."

Dayle Harrison, headteacher at Revoe Learning Academy in central Blackpool, urged parents to refrain from sending their children in with their own hand gels.

He said: "We appreciate that some of you have taken this precaution but you can be totally assured that we are continuing with our safe, regular hand washing and hand sanitizing routines."

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD HAS COVID-19

* Keep your child at home, self-isolate, and call the school office

* Book a Covid-19 test for your child and keep them off school until results are received

* Any siblings must also stay home

* Class bubbles, including the bubble the sibling/s are in, do not need to stay off

* Once the results are received, the school will take action, if necessary

Across the UK, a number of schools have been hit with coronavirus cases.

It came as Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested that young people under-25 – particularly those aged 17-21 – have helped propel the rise in positive coronavirus cases across the country in recent days.

The National Education Union (NEU) is calling for a “more robust and accessible” test and trace system after it said it had heard reports of teachers being told to travel hundreds of miles for a test.

The union is calling for the Government to plan for outbreaks – by employing more teachers and looking for additional space – to ensure that young people’s education is as “uninterrupted as possible”.

“The Government cannot side-step its responsibility, leaving schools and colleges to carry the can for its inadequate preparations,” Mr Courtney added.

Mr Hancock suggested that affluent youngsters have helped to propel the rise in cases as he implored people to stick to social-distancing measures.

He said “nobody wants to see a second wave” in the UK and that a recent surge in cases was “concerning”.

Mr Hancock admitted that there have been “operational issues” over testing, when probed about people being asked to travel long distances for tests.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said it is “impossible” to eliminate entirely the risks of transmission either in school or the wider community.

He added: “It is therefore likely that disruption will continue over the coming weeks and months.

“This shows the necessity for a robust contingency plan in case students are unable to take GCSE and A-level exams next summer or their preparation is significantly disrupted.

“The Government must take action now on such a back-up plan before time runs out.”

Dr Arif Rajpura, Blackpool Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “Parents should not be congregating at the school gates and everyone must adhere to the social distancing guidance, washing their hands and self-isolating and getting a test if they are symptomatic.

“Nationally we have seen cases rising and we need to do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus locally and keep our levels at the current low rates.

“We have been working closely with the schools over the last few weeks to make sure they have their Covid-secure arrangements in place. We ask that parents do their bit too.”